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first-foot

[furst-foo t]Scot.
noun Also first-foot·er.
  1. the first person to cross the threshold of a house on New Year's Day.
  2. the first person met after starting out on the day of an important occasion.
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verb (used with object)
  1. to enter (a house) first on New Year's Day.
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verb (used without object)
  1. to be the first to enter a house on New Year's Day.
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Origin of first-foot

First recorded in 1880–85
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for first-foot

Historical Examples

  • "I should be the first-foot here, only I'm no use as a qualtagh," said Philip.

    The Manxman

    Hall Caine

  • But our business at present is with the first-foot, and we must hold.

  • It is more lucky to meet a man than a woman as a first-foot.

  • The "first-foot," on receiving his bread and cheese, is expected to return a short distance with the child, to show his good will.

  • He knew her at the first glance—it was the fair stranger—his mother's first-foot!

British Dictionary definitions for first-foot

first-foot

noun Also: first-footer
  1. the first person to enter a household in the New Year. By Hogmanay tradition a dark-haired man who crosses the threshold at midnight brings good luck
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verb
  1. to enter (a house) as first-foot
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Derived Formsfirst-footing, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012